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Most iconic White House photos of 2012

"The President gives direction on the fiscal cliff negotiations to Rob Nabors, Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs; the Vice President; Bruce Reed, Chief of Staff to the Vice President, and Chief of Staff Jack Lew in the Oval Office."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Dec. 31, 2012

"Following remarks in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the fiscal cliff negotiations, the President greets a couple of GSA workers as he walked back across on West Executive Avenue as he walked back to the West Wing of the White House. He gave them an elbow-bump, because he had just put Purell on his hands."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Dec. 28, 2012

"After returning early from his Christmas vacation, the President with the Vice President meets in the Oval Office with the leadership of Congress to discuss the fiscal cliff."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Dec. 16, 2012

"Two days after the shootings at Newtown, the President traveled to Connecticut to meet with the victims families and give remarks at a prayer vigil. The President spent hours greeting family members. Difficult as that was for everyone, the one moment that helped sooth the pain was when he posed for a photo with the siblings and cousins of Emilie Parker, one of the 20 children who died that day in Newtown. I see both sadness and hope in this photograph, and I know after a lot of tears that day, it meant so much to the President that everyone was able to smile for a moment in this family photo. Thanks to the Parker family for allowing us to show this photograph publicly."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Dec. 16, 2012

"The President works on his Newtown speech at an auditorium in suburban Washington. Two days earlier, I had photographed him when John Brennan first briefed him on the shootings. Throughout that day, he reacted as we all did, which people witnessed when he delivered his statement a few hours later. Before we headed to Newtown for the Sunday night vigil, he went to watch his daughter Sasha, 11, at her rehearsal for the Nutcracker; he would be unable to attend her performance because of the trip to Newtown. During breaks in the rehearsal, he worked on his speech. His expression in this photograph may be subtle to the viewer, but not to me. There is emotion and resolve etched on his face, and he knew the importance of this speech for the nation."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

May 25, 2012

"Luz Graham-Urquilla, 4, watches as the President signs her drawing at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Feb. 13, 2012

"From early spring to late fall, the light in the Oval Office is fairly consistent with the sun high in the horizon during the day. But during the winter months, the sun is lower on the horizon and splashes through the back window in the early morning and late afternoon. Here, in the midst of the morning light, the President talks on the phone with British Prime Minister David Cameron."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Feb. 29, 2012

"Sonya Hebert made this amusing photograph of Bo, the Obama family dog, as he was being videotaped for the Easter Egg Roll, in the East Colonnade of the White House."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert

June 13, 2012

"There was still a little light left in the evening sky as the President Barack and First Lady waved goodbye to President Shimon Peres of Israel following a dinner in his honor at the White House."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

April 18, 2012

"We were doing an event at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Before speaking, the President was looking at some of the automobiles and exhibits adjacent to the event, and before I knew what was happening he walked onto the famed Rosa Parks bus. He sat in one of the seats, looking out the window for a only few seconds."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

May 1, 2012

"For the President, this was one of the most poignant moments of the his first term. He was visiting wounded warriors in the intensive care unit at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan. He had just presented a Purple Heart to Sgt. Chase Haag, who had been injured by an IED just hours before. Sgt. Haag was covered with a blanket and it was difficult to see how badly he was injured. He was also seemingly unconscious, or perhaps just asleep. The President whispered in his ear so not to wake him. Just then, there was a rustling under the blanket and Sgt. Haag, eyes still closed, reached his hand out to shake hands with the President. 'I'll never forget that moment,' someone else in the room later told me.'"

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

May 1, 2012

"A soldier hugs the President as he greeted U.S. troops at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

March 30, 2012

"We had just arrived aboard the Marine One helicopter on the South Lawn and the President was walking into the White House. I had seen this scene several times but had never been able to quite capture it the way I wanted. Here, finally, arriving at night, I was able to frame him walking into the light of the Diplomatic Reception Room, with the added bonus of his shadow being cast from the television lights off to the left."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

March 17, 2012

"David Lienemann made this action photograph: Vice President Joe Biden and his security detail literally running during the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Pittsburgh, Penn."

Credit: Official White House Photo by David Lienemann

Feb. 16, 2011

"Chuck Kennedy made this photograph of women reacting in surprise in the Red Room after surprisingly meeting First Lady Michelle Obama during their White House tour."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy

Feb. 1, 2012

"Lawrence Jackson captured this cute photograph of the President holding Arianna Holmes, 3, before taking a departure photo with members of her family in the Oval Office."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson

Jan. 25, 2012

"Chuck Kennedy made this amusing photograph of First Lady Michelle Obama participating in a potato sack race with Jimmy Fallon in the East Room of the White House during a "ate Night with Jimmy Fallon" taping for the second anniversary of the "Let's Move!" initiative."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy

Aug. 15, 2012

"The President hugs the First Lady after she had introduced him at a campaign event in Davenport, Iowa. The campaign tweeted a similar photo from the campaign photographer on election night and a lot of people thought it was taken on election day."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Nov. 15, 2012

"The President had just met with the U.S. Olympics gymnastics team, who because of a previous commitment had missed the ceremony earlier in the year with the entire U.S. Olympic team. The President suggested to McKayla Maroney that they recreate her 'not impressed' photograph before they departed."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Sept. 8, 2012

"I love the headlight on the vehicle helping to light this frame taken by David Lienemann as the Vice President greets people gathered outside the Obama For America field office in Chillicothe, Ohio."

Credit: Official White House Photo by David Lienemann

Nov. 6, 2012 (Election Day)

"David Lienemann captured the Obamas and Bidens following the President's election night remarks at McCormick Place in Chicago."

Credit: Official White House Photo by David Lienemann

Oct. 31, 2012

"The President and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie talk with local residents affected by Hurricane Sandy at the Brigantine Beach Community Center in Brigantine, N.J."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Sept. 6, 2012

"While the President was waiting anxiously backstage before his speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., daughters Malia and Sasha came in to wish him well."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

July 26, 2012

"A view from behind the President's chair during a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Nov. 15, 2012

"The President tries to comfort Damien and Glenda Moore at a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center tent in Staten Island, N.Y. The Moore's two small children, Brandon and Connor, died after being swept away during Hurricane Sandy."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Aug. 28, 2012

"The shadows of supporters are seen cheering as the President makes his way to the stage at an outdoor campaign rally at Colorado State University in Fort Collins."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

July 5, 2012

"'Anyone want to try a piece of my strawberry pie,' the President asked those at adjacent tables during a stop for lunch at Kozy Corners restaurant in Oak Harbor, Ohio. A young boy said yes and came over for a big bite of pie."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Sept. 14, 2012

"The President grasps the hand of the Secretary of State after his remarks during the ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, marking the return to the United States of the remains of J. Christopher Stevens, U.S. Ambassador to Libya; Sean Smith, Information Management Officer; and Security Personnel Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, who were killed in the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

June 29, 2012

"The President views fire damage with firefighters and elected officials in Colorado Springs, Colo. after the devastating wildfires swept through the region the week before."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

June 28, 2012

"Sonya Hebert made this photograph of the First Lady joining African Methodist Episcopal Church bishops for a group prayer at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tenn."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert

June 18, 2012

"We were in Mexico for a summit. While the President was waiting for Russian President Vladimir Putin to arrive for their bilateral meeting, he stepped outside to talk with Chief of Staff Jack Lew."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

June 18, 2012

"The First Lady reacts as she watches Laura Jarrett and Tony Balkissoon take their vows during their wedding at Valerie Jarrett's home in Chicago."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

June 15, 2012

"We had just arrived at the helicopter landing zone in Chicago and instead of walking right to the motorcade, the President and First Lady walked past their vehicle to the edge of Lake Michigan to view the skyline of their home town."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

June 28, 2012

"The President prays with a wounded service member and his family during a visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. The President likes to make a few trips a year to Walter Reed to visit wounded warriors and their families."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

June 14, 2012

"We made an OTR (off-the-record, surprise stop) at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland after a campaign event, and the President sat and talked to a young woman before shooting hoops with another group of kids.

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

May 20, 2012

"'How cool is this,' the President said after he threw a football at Soldier Field following the NATO working dinner in Chicago. I think he was especially excited to be on the home turf of his beloved Chicago Bears."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

May 19, 2012

"At Camp David for the G8 Summit, European leaders took a break to watch the overtime shootout of the Chelsea vs. Bayern Munich Champions League final. Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom, the President, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, French President Francois Hollande react during the winning goal."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

May 25, 2012

"The President was welcoming service members and their families to a screening of 'Men in Black 3' in the White House Family Theater. The movie was being presented in 3D, so the President jokingly asked them to try on their 3D glasses while he was speaking to them."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

May 11, 2012

"After some early morning basketball in Los Angeles, the President talks with the players who included actors Don Cheadle, Tobey Maguire, and George Clooney, along with two of Clooney's long-time friends. Stacy Keibler is also at right."

Credit: Official White House Photo by ete Souza

May 19, 2012

"Following the conclusion of the G8 Summit, the President plays a game of pool in the Holly Cabin at Camp David."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Jan. 1, 2012

"A nice way to celebrate the New Year for the President was to jump in the ocean in his native state of Hawaii. He was on his annual Christmas vacation with family and friends, and went swimming at Pyramid Rock Beach in Kaneohe Bay."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

May 11, 2012

"Lawrence Jackson made this great photograph of the First Lady touching the Hokie Stone before walking onto the field at Lane Stadium to give the Virginia Tech commencement address in Blacksburg, Va."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson

April 24, 2012

"We were backstage at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill for the President's appearance on 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.' The President let out a big laugh as he was being briefed by the producers and Mr. Fallon on the 'Slow Jam the News' segment."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Jan. 30, 2012

"This is one of those rare instances where my presence indirectly became a part of this reaction from those pictured in the photograph. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had just accidentally dropped all of her briefing papers onto the Oval Office rug and she, the President and Vice President all reacted in a way that indicated that surely I wouldn't get a photo of that to embarrass her.

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

May 1, 2012

"In Afghanistan, there was virtually no light inside the helicopter as we flew from Kabul back to Bagram Air Field after the President had met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. (For the photo buffs, this photograph was taken at ISO 6400, 1/5 second at f/1.4.) Flanking the President are General John Allen, Commanding General of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan, and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker. Denis McDonough, Deputy National Security Advisor, is at left."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Feb. 21, 2012

"Egged on by B.B. King, at right, the President joins in singing 'Sweet Home Chicago' during the 'In Performance at the White House: Red, White and Blues' concert in the East Room. Participants include, from left: Troy 'Trombone Shorty' Andrews, Jeff Beck, Derek Trucks, B.B. King, and Gary Clark, Jr."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Feb. 7, 2012

"Kids will be kids. After the President had welcomed Lauren Fleming, the March of Dimes national ambassador and her family in the Oval Office, her brother, Corbin Fleming, started to play with the President's telephone. Fortunately, he wasn't able to get through to a head of state."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Jan. 24, 2012

"One of the most memorable moments of the year was when the President hugged Rep. Gabrielle Giffords as he walked onto the floor of the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol to deliver his annual State of the Union address."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Dec. 29, 2012

"In the Oval Office, the President meets with senior advisors to discuss the ongoing fiscal cliff negotiations."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy

Nov. 19, 2012

"To some, this is just a snapshot and doesn't belong in this gallery of candid photographs from the year. But to me, it evokes what the trip to Burma was all about. Here is the President, shoes and socks off in respect, posing like an American tourist in front of the oldest pagoda in the world in a country that no U.S. President had ever been able to visit." President Barack Obama stands barefoot in front of the 368-foot tall Shwedagon pagoda in Rangoon, Burma, Nov. 19, 2012.

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Dec. 14, 2012

"The President reacts as John Brennan briefs him on the details of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. The President later said during a TV interview that this was the worst day of his Presidency."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Nov. 6, 2012 (Election Day)

"The Obama family and close friends were watching election results at a Chicago hotel. The President had warned everyone that it could be a very late night. Yet, only a few minutes later, the networks projected that he had been re-elected, and the President embraced the First Lady, while in the background, daughter Sasha hugged one of her cousins."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Oct. 26, 2012

"The President to be caught in Spider-Man's web as he greets the Nicholas Tamarin, 3, just outside the Oval Office. Spider-Man had been trick-or-treating for an early Halloween with his father, White House aide Nate Tamarin in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. I can never commit to calling any picture my favorite, but the President told me that this was HIS favorite picture of the year when he saw it hanging in the West Wing a couple of weeks later."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Nov. 14, 2012

"Aides listen on the speaker phone in the Oval Office as the President talks on the phone with President Mohammed Morsi of Egypt about the escalating violence in Gaza."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Nov. 29, 2012

"There is closure in this photograph. I suspect that neither man really wanted to have lunch with the other, but they both knew the importance for the American people in seeing them do so. Here, the President bids farewell to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney following their lunch."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Nov. 6, 2012 (Election Day)

"While he waited for the concession call from Gov. Mitt Romney, the President worked on his acceptance speech with Jon Favreau, Director of Speechwriting, and campaign advisor David Axelrod at a Chicago hotel."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Dec. 12, 2012

"When I was in high school, I had a friend who had Bose 901 speakers

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Nov. 19, 2012

"Police hold back the crowd as residents line the streets of the motorcade route to welcome the first sitting President of the United States to visit Burma. This photograph was taken through the bullet-proof window of the vehicle just in front of the President's. I love that three of the police are also trying to sneak a glimpse, one with a smile on his face."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Oct. 29, 2012

"In the White House Situation Room, the President receives an update to the ongoing response to Hurricane Sandy during a teleconference with key officials."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Sept. 1, 2012

"The overview of a campaign rally in Urbandale, Iowa. This view was from a scissors lift just above the press stand."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Oct. 18, 2012

"The President ties his white tie before the Alfred E. Smith dinner in New York. Although the dinner is an annual event, every four years, the two presidential nominees attend the dinner only a few weeks before the election."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Oct. 12, 2012

"The President had invited former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs to have lunch, and they apparently started talking about Gibb's Chevy Volt. Gibbs knew the President had visited one of their factories and was hoping to drive a Volt one day. Gibbs told the President that his car was on the South Drive. So the President jumped in and made three loops around the drive, joking later that the Secret Service ordered that the White House gates not be opened under any circumstances."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Sept. 28, 2012

"A candid portrait of the President during a meeting, juxtaposed with the paintings of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, busts of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Abraham Lincoln, and the Emancipation Proclamation. It's a difficult angle to get because I had to sit in front of the closed Oval Office door and hope that no one would open the door and knock me over."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Sept. 5, 2012

"Backstage at the Democratic National Convention, the President watches former President Bill Clinton delivers his nomination speech, before surprising the crowd with an onstage appearance together after the speech."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Oct. 2, 2012

"The President talks with Ron Klain during debate preparations in Henderson, Nev. Sen. John Kerry, background, played the role of Gov. Mitt Romney during the prep sessions."

Credit: Official White House Photo by

Sept. 7, 2012

"The President and Vice President share a laugh before a campaign rally together in Portsmouth, N.H."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Sept. 2, 2012

"David Lienemann made this unusual photo as staff held flashlights so the Vice President could see as he signed autographs backstage at West York Area High School in York, Pa."

Credit: Official White House Photo by David Lienemann

Sept. 11, 2012

"Denis McDonough, Deputy National Security Advisor, left, updates the President and Vice President on the situation in the Middle East and North Africa. National Security Advisor Tom Donilon and Chief of Staff Jack Lew are at right."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Aug. 14, 2012

"The President waves from his campaign bus to people lining the motorcade route in Iowa."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Aug. 14, 2012

"How about a White House beer? The President was greeting patrons President at Coffee Connection in Knoxville, Iowa, when this customer asked him about the White House beer. The President said he thought he might have some on his campaign bus and asked an aide to check. A few minutes later, the President delivered a bottle and the customer reacted in celebration."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

July 14, 2012

"The President delivers remarks in the pouring rain at a campaign event in Glen Allen, Va. He was supposed to do a series of press interviews inside before his speech, but since people had been waiting for hours in the rain he did his remarks as soon as he arrived onsite so people."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

July 27, 2012

"Sonya Hebert captured this amusing moment as U.S. Olympic wrestler Elena Pirozhkova literally picked up the First Lady during a greet with Team USA Olympic athletes competing in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London."

Credit: Official White House Photo by Sonya Hebert

July 22, 2012

"The President hugs Stephanie Davies, who helped keep her friend, Allie Young, left, alive after she was shot during the movie theater shootings in Aurora, Colorado. The President visited patients and family members affected by the shootings at the University of Colorado Hospital. The President later told their story in a news conference."